Packaging



y 0, 1966 1. o. BOYNTON 3,250,386

PACKAGING Filed April 5, 1962 FIG.I.

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PACKAGING Filed April 5 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 10, 1966 Filed April5, 1962 l. D. BOYNTON PACKAGING 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 y 1966 I. D. BOYNTON3,250,386

PACKAGING Filed April 5, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4- United States Patent3,250,386 PACKAGING Ira Dana Boynton, Lexington, Mass, assignor, bymesne assignments, to Packaging Frontiers, Inc., Waltham, Mass., acorporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 5, 1962, Ser. No. 185,326 4 Claims.(Cl. 206-65) This invention relates to packaging, and more particularlyto the containerization of tetrahedron-shaped packages.

The tetrahedron-shaped package is a modern type of package, made by aform-fill-seal technique, essentially comprising a length of tubinghaving a transverse seal at one end in a first plane and a transverseseal at its other end in a second plane at such an angle to the plane ofthe first transverse seal (usually at an angle of approximately 90 tothe plane of the first transverse seal) that the package has fourtriangular sides, two of which have the first transverse seal as theirbase and the other two of which have the second transverse seal as theirbase. While it may superficially appear that such packages would readilyfit together for nested packing of a plurality of packages in acontainer, eiforts to nest-pack them in a container (such as arectangular carton) will readily demonstrate that the matter of packingthem in a container with eflicient utilization of the volume of thecontainer (i.e., minimizing of voids in the container) is not a simplematter. This is particularly so in the case of packages of equilateraltetrahedron shape (i.e., packages as to which all four triangular sidesare identical). Accordingly, among the several obiects of this inventionmay be noted the provision of a method of containerizingtetrahedron-shaped packages, and particularly packages of equilateraltetrahedron shape, with efiicient utilization of the volume of thecontainer in which the packages are contained; the provision of such amethod for containerizing such packages in rectangular cartons or trays;and the provision of a container packed with tetrahedron-shaped packagesin such manner as efiiciently to utilize the volume of the container.Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointedout hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions and methodshereinafter described, the scope of the invention being indicated in thefollowing claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possibleembodiments of the invention is illustrated,

FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspectives showing certain initial steps in themethod of this invention for containerizing tetrahedron-shaped packagesin a rectangular tray, one wall of the tray being broken away in FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is a plan of FIG. 2, showing all four walls of the tray;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are perspectives showing further steps in the method;

FIG. 6 is a plan of FIG. 5;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are perspectives showing further steps in the method;

FIG. 9 is a plan of FIG. 8;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are perspectives showing further steps in the method,FIG. 11 showing a completed assembly; and

FIG. 12 is a plan of FIG. 11.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views of the draw- Referring to the drawings,there is indicated at 1 a rectangular container, open at the top, inwhich a plurality of tetrahedron-shaped packages are to becontainerized. This container, as shown, has the form of a shallowrectangular tray. Since the container or tray 1 is rectangular, it hasfour vertical corners, which are designated C1,

C2, C3 and C4. Corner C1 is diagonally opposite corner C3; corner C2 isdiagonally opposite corner C4.

' Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1-3, there is indicated at F1what may be referred to as a fan of three somewhat elongatedtetrahedron-shaped packages. Each package in the fan F1 is designatedP1. Each package comprises a length of tubing having a transverse sealE1 at one end in a first plane and a transverse seal E2 at the other endin a second plane at an angle of to the plane of seal E1, so that thepackage has four triangular sides. Two of these triangular sides, eachof which is designated 3, have seal E1 as their base; the other twotriangular sides (only one of which appears in FIGS. 1-3, and which isdesignated 5) have seal E2 as their base. As shown, seals E1 and E2 aremade at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the tubing, hence eachpackage is of equilateral tetrahedron shape, i.e., all four triangularsides of the package are identical.

As will be apparent from FIGS. l-3, the fan F1 is formed by bringing thethree packages P1 into side-by-side fan-shaped relation with one end ofeach package in the fan (for example, the end sealed by seal E1) at theapex A1 of the fan, and the other ends of the packages (for example, theends sealed by seals E2) constituting the outer edge of the fan. Tosimplify the drawings,'the triangular sides of the packages areillustrated as flat throughout their area, but it will be understoodthat ordinarily each side will be of somewhat rounded contourparticularly adjacent its apex.

Having formed the fan F1, it is positioned in the tray 1 with its apexat the corner C1 of the tray (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The outer sides of thefan F1, constituted by the outer triangular sides 3 of the two outerpackages of the three packages in the fan, lie in vertical planesgenerally at right angles to one another contiguous to the sides of thetray which meet at corner C1. With seals E1 made at right angles to thelongitudinal axis of the tubing as shown herein, apex A of the fan isinclined slightly off vertical at corner C1. The sides of the tray aresomewhat longer than the length of the long edge of a triangular packageside.

Now referring to FIGS. 4-6, there is shown a second fan of threetetrahedron-shaped packages, identical to fan F1, and designated F2 todistinguish it from fan F1. The packages in fan F2 are identical topackages P1, and are designated P2 to distinguish them from packages P1.The apex of fan F2 is designated A2. Having formed the fan F2, as shownin FIG. 4, it is positioned in the tray 1 overlying fan F1 and with itsapex A2 at corner C2 of the tray, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

Now referring to FIGS. 79, there is shown a third fan of threetetrahedron-shaped packages, identical to fans F1 and F2, and designatedF3 to distinguish it therefrom. The packages in fan F3 are identical topackages P1 and P2 and are designated P3 to distinguish them frompackages P1 and P2. The apex of fan F3 is designated A3. Having formedthe fan F3 as shown in FIG. 7, it is positioned in the tray 1 overlyingfan F2 and with its apex A3 at corner C3 of the tray, as shown in FIGS.8 and 9.

Finally, referring to FIGS. lO-l2, there is shown a fourth fan of threetetrahedron-shaped packages identical to fans F1, F2 and F3, anddesignated F4 to distinguish it therefrom. The packages in fan F4 areidentical to packages P1, P2 and P3 and are designated P4 to distinguishthem from packages P1, P2 and P3. The apex of fan F4 is designated A4.Having formed the fan F4 as shown in FIG. 10, it is positioned in thetray 1 overlying fan F3 and with its apex A4 at corner C4 of the tray,as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, it will be seen that the completed packcomprises the rectangular tray 1 with the four sets F1, F2, F3 and P4 oftetrahedron-shaped packages P1, P2, P3 and P4 packed therein. Each setF1, F2, F3, F4 is shaped likea fan, consisting of three packages withone end (s'eal El) of each package in the fan at the apex (A1, A2, A3 orA4) of the fan and with the other ends (seals E2) of the packages in thefan constituting the outer edge of the fan. Successive sets arepositioned in the tray with their apices at successive corners of thetray (corners C1, C2, C3, C4) and overlying one another. This providesan orderly arrangement with efficient utilization of the volume of thetray.

While the tray 1 as herein shown is a relatively shallow tray packedwith four fans, it will be understood that a deeper container may beused packed with a greater number of fans, by continuing the depositionof fans in the container with the apices of successive fans atsuccessive corners of the container. Thus, eight fans may be packed in adeeper rectangular container by positioning four fans as' herein shown,positioning the fifth fan overlying the fourth fan and With its apex atcorner C1, positioning the sixth fan overlying the fifth fan and withits apex at corner C2, etc.

It will also be understood that the number of packages in an individualfan may vary, depending on the particular shape of the packages, the fanof three packages being particularly appropriate for elongateequilateral tetrahedrons such as herein disclosed.

The container or tray 1 may be made of any suitable material, such asthe usual box-board. If desired, the walls thereof may be provided withholes as where the packages contain a liquid which is to be frozen afterthe packages have beenpacked in the container.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of theinvention are achieved and other advan tage'ous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions and methodswithout departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended thatall matter contained in the above description or shown in theaccompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of containerizing tetrahedron-shaped packages in arectangular container having four vertical corners as to which a firstand third corner are diagonally opposite one another and a second andfourth corner are diagonally opposite one another, said methodcomprising forming a first fan consisting of a plurality of packages inside -by-side fan-shaped relation with one end of each package in thefan at the apex of the fan and the other ends of the packages in the fanconstituting the outer edge of the fan, positioning said first fan afterthe forming thereof in the container with its apex at the first cornerof the container, forming a second fan identical to the first fan,positioning the second fan after the forming thereof in the containerwith itsapex at the second corner of the container and with saidsecondfan overlying said first fan, forming a third fan identical to thepreceding fans, positioning the third fan after the forming thereof inthe container with its apex at the third corner of the container andwith said third fan overlying said second fan, forming a fourth fanidentical to the preceding fans, and positioning the fourth fan afterthe forming thereof in the container with its apex at the fourth cornerof the container and with said fourth fan overlying said third fan. 1

2. The method of claim 1' wherein each fan consists of three packages. I

3. A container packed with tetrahedron-shaped packages, saidcontainerbeing rectangularaud having four vertical corners as to which a firstand third corner are diagonally opposite one another and a second fourthcorner are diagonally opposite one another, said packages being arrangedin sets each shaped like afan, each set consisting of a plurality ofpackages with one end of each package in the set at the apex of the fanand the other ends of the packages in the set constituting the outeredge of the fan, a first set being positioned in the container with itsapex at the first corner of the container, a second set being positionedin the container overlying the first set with its apex at the secondcorner of the con tainer, athird set beingpositioned in the containeroverlying the second set with its apex'at the third corner, and afourthset being positioned in the container overlying the third set withits apex at the fourth corner of the container. My A I a 4. A containerpacked with tetrahedron-shaped packages as set forth in claim 3 whereineach set of packages consists of three packages.

References Citedbytlie Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,809,600 6/1931Palmer 206, X" 2,887,221 5/1959 Woodward 206 65 2,919,800 1/1960 Janina;20665 FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner".

1. THE METHOD OF CONTAINERIZING TETRAHEDRON-SHAPED PACKAGES IN ARECTANGULAR CONTAINER HAVING FOUR VERTICAL CORNERS AS TO WHICH A FIRSTAND THIRD CORNER ARE DIAGONALLY OPPOSITE ONE ANOTHER AND A SECOND ANDFOURTH CORNER ARE DIAGONALLY OPPOSITE ONE ANOTHER, SAID METHODCOMPRISING FORMING A FIRST FAN CONSISTING OF A PLURALITY OF PACKAGES INSIDE-BY-SIDE FAN-SHAPED RELATION WITH ONE END OF EACH PACKAGE IN THE FANAT THE APEX OF THE FAN AND THE OHTER ENDS OF THE PACKAGES IN THE FANCONSTITUTING THE OTHER EDGE OF THE FAN, POSITIONING SAID FIRST FAN AFTERTHE FORMING THEREOF IN THE CONTAINER WITH ITS APEX AT THE FIRST CORNEROF THE CONTAINER, FORMING A SECOND FAN IDENTICAL TO THE FIRST FAN,POSITIONING THE SECON FAN AFTER THE FORMING THEREOF IN THE CONTAINERWITH ITS APEX AT THE SECOND CORNER OF THE CONTAINER AND WITH SAID SECONDFAN OVERLYING SAID FIRST FAN, FORMING A THIRD FAN IDENTICAL TO THEPRECEDING FANS, POSITIONING THE THIRD FAN AFTER THE FORMING THEREOF INTHE CONAINER WITH ITS APEX AT THE THIRD CORNER OF THE CONTAINER AND WITHSAID THIRD FAN OVERLYING SAID SECOND FAN, FORMING A FOURTH FAN IDENTICALTO THE PRECEDING FANS, AND POSITIONING THE FOURTH FAN AFTER THE FORMINGTHEREOF IN THE CONTAINER WITH ITS APEX AT THE FOURTH CORNER OF THECONTAINER AND WITH SAID FOURTH FAN OVERLYING SAID THIRD FAN.